Science | embryonic stem cells Court Overturns Stem Cell Ban Federal funding can now be used for human embryonic cell research By Kevin Spak Posted Apr 29, 2011 12:06 PM CDT Copied A researcher pulls a frozen vial of human embryonic stem cells at the University of Michigan Center for Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research Laboratory in this Oct. 22, 2008 file photo. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya, File) A federal appeals court overturned the ban on federal funding for human embryonic stem cell research today in a 2-1 ruling. The US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled that such funding did not violate a 1996 law forbidding the use of federal money for research in which an embryo is destroyed, according to the Wall Street Journal. It’s a significant victory for President Obama, who made lifting George W. Bush’s restrictions on stem cell research funding one of his first acts as president. Read These Next An 11-year-old girl gave birth at home. The story gets worse. 'How can you be that ignorant?' senator asks RFK Jr. Looks like hackers have pulled off another major data breach. You're probably saying 'Denzel' wrong. Report an error